Facebook aids in justice

August 1, 2011 by admin
Filed under Lingerie Events

We all understand the effect Facebook has and the social transformation that has come from it. What has most recently developed is its use in criminal investigation.

It turns out Facebook is not just for sharing funny videos and witty status updates; it is also for sharing criminal behavior.

Anders Behring Breivik’s bombing and shooting in Oslo, Norway, left dozens dead and many confused. The week before on July 17, Breivik created a Facebook page and a Twitter page that offered a glimpse into the terrorist’s mind. As has been duly noted in news reports, Breivik ‘liked’ Hunting. Because of the timing, there is speculation that he set up these profiles to give the press information on his background. In the click of a ‘like,’ there is insight to his dual terrorist attacks.

Unforeseeably, the social networking site is serving as a tracker, investigator, and judge. Originally meant to be an innocuous social tool, it is now a chronicle for criminal activities.

In another violent incident, Jason Valdez couldn’t let the opportunity of a status update pass by during his hostage-taking situation on June 17. In a 16-hour overnight standoff with the police, the 36-year-old Utah gunman used his Facebook account to keep his family and friends updated on the crime.

Talk about not being in the moment (He commented on a picture he posted, “Got a cute ‘HOSTAGE’, huh?”). However, this served to his advantage at the time. He received much support and encouragement from his online friends and even a tip from a friend who posted on his Facebook wall that a SWAT officer was hiding in the bushes outside the motel.

Also, Marcus McKinley from West Virginia was charged with murder for the shooting death of Ayana Patton, the mother of his child. Police investigated his Facebook and found that he incessantly posted about his domestic disputes with Patton.

His status at 3:38 a.m. on May 19 can only be interpreted as a confession: “To the ones that don’t know me go ahead and call names say what u like.. and to the ones tha kno me knows it was a reason behind it … one can only tolerate so much and the lord was my witness.. only god can judge me now.”

Patton’s body was found around 7 a.m. that morning.

So what motivates these criminals to publically post allusions or flat out confessions to their violent transgressions? Is Facebook serving their need for attention and also a confidence boost? (Really, isn’t that what it does for all of us?)

In these cases, social networking websites reflect the plans and admissions of crime committing users. It seems investigators do not have to do much more than type in the suspect’s name into the search box.

Facebook has not only transformed people’s social interactions; the justice system is feeling its effects, as well.

From benign online community to police blotter, Facebook has had a noteworthy evolution.

Reach the columnist at mgrichar@asu.edu